Songs of the Sea

Through guided listening, composer stories, performance clips, and vivid imagery, guests will experience works by Wagner, Debussy, Ravel, Vaughan Williams, Richard Rodgers, and more in a program that celebrates the sea’s beauty, power, and unforgettable pull. In Music of the Oceans, guests will take a guided musical voyage through works that capture the many moods of the sea.

Designed for the average music listener as well as longtime music lovers, this program makes each selection accessible through engaging introductions, composer backstories, historical context, performance clips, and ocean-inspired imagery. You’ll hear how Wagner’s dramatic overture to The Flying Dutchman surges with musical thunder and lightning as a ship struggles against the storm. Debussy’s La Mer paints three shimmering portraits of the sea at different times of day, using color and texture to suggest the water’s constant motion. Ravel offers a gentler view in A Boat on the Ocean, creating a floating sense of calm and reflection.

The program also explores the ocean as a symbol of grandeur, history, and human experience. Ralph Vaughan Williams salutes the glory and vastness of the sea in A Sea Symphony, while Richard Rodgers — best known as one half of the legendary Broadway musical team Rodgers and Hammerstein — provides a powerful visual soundtrack for Victory at Sea, the television series that chronicled Pacific battles during World War II. Whether peaceful, stormy, majestic, or cinematic, the sea has given composers an endless source of inspiration. Join us for an entertaining and visually rich journey across musical waters — no Dramamine required.

About the Speaker: A native of Los Angeles, Marc Shulgold was a music journalist at the Los Angeles Times, and for the Rocky Mountain News. He taught music history at the University of Denver's adult enrichment program for over 20 years and is a contributor to Opera Magazine among other publications. Marc is a program annotator for University of Colorado concerts and a longtime speaker at the Vail summertime music festival.

Ticket price for the Music & Nature series is $10 - proceeds benefit conservation, park enhancement, and nature education in Geauga County through the Foundation for Geauga Parks.

This series is included in the Foundation for Geauga Parks Membership Program:

-Friend level receives 20% off.

-Member level participants may attend free.

-Member Plus level participants receive one free ticket AND a free ticket for a friend attending with you.

MEMBERS: Make sure you're logged into the website and when you enter your information and select your tickets, the membership option you chose will be applied.

If the event is canceled or postponed, registered attendees will be notified promptly and we will make every effort to reschedule. Unless otherwise noted, registrations and ticket purchases are nonrefundable.